Benefit to aid assault victim in South Ot

SOUTH OTSELIC – A benefit to aid Plymouth resident Bill Buckley and the Buckley family will be held at noon Saturday at the South Otselic American Legion, Valley View Road. In May, Buckley was the victim of an assault that resulted in serious injuries requiring more than seven hours of major reconstructive surgery.

According to Buckley’s wife, Sue, her husband – a Son of the American Legion – was preparing the South Otselic Legion for its annual Memorial Day barbecue when he was attacked by 38-year-old Michael Thiel. Bill, she added, “didn’t have a chance to defend himself,” as he was rendered unconscious after the first punch. Thiel continued to strike her husband, said Buckley, “punching him like he was a punching bag.”

Emergency responders on the scene said Bill “needed to be transported to the hospital at once,” she added. Minutes later, they said he required transport to an upstate trauma unit and had to be airlifted as soon as possible.